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Letters @hebrides.biz

Letters should include name and full address for publication. Please include a phone number for verification.

 

                                     

Everyone has a right to their opinion                               13/7/09

 

 

Sir,

 

I note from letters to Hebrides News (“Ferries, statistics and rich against the poor”    and “Sunday ferry will divide families”) that Mr Macleod has turned his attention to the views of the members of the Outer Hebrides Tourism Industry Association (OHTIA) on the Sunday ferry consultation process.

 

My role as Chairman of the OHTIA is to ensure that we represent the views of our members to CNES, Visit Scotland, HIE and other local and national organisations as appropriate.

 

When Calmac announced the start of a consultation process on the possibility of introducing Sunday ferry services to Stornoway and Tarbert, we sought the views of our members in Lewis and Harris to provide an input to Calmac. We e-mailed all 63 members with a link to a brief online survey, which each recipient was able to complete only once.

 

We had a total of 41 responses, as follows:

 

Do you support the proposal to start a Sunday ferry service between

Stornoway and Ullapool?

 

Strongly Support      63.4%

Moderately Support      19.5%

No view         0%   

Moderately Against       4.9%

Strongly Against      12.2%

 

 

Do you support the proposal to start a Sunday ferry service between Tarbert and Uig?

 

Strongly Support    65.0%

Moderately Support    15.0%

No view      0%

Moderately Against     7.5%

Strongly Against    12.5%

 

 

 

What do you think will be the impact of Sunday ferries on tourism in Lewis and Harris?

 

Strongly improve visitor numbers and spend    53.8%

Moderately improve visitor numbers and spend   33.3%

No difference     7.7%

Moderately reduce visitor numbers and spend     0%

Strongly reduce visitor numbers and spend    5.1%

 

 

This data was supplied “as is” to Calmac as the OHTIA input to their consultation.

 

Mr Macleod has rightly observed that 22 members did not respond. It is, of course, possible to assume that the non-respondents hold one view or another, but it is not for the OHTIA to guess what that view might have been. We have simply reported the number of respondents and the views expressed to Calmac.

 

I find it very disappointing that Mr Macleod seeks to dismiss any views expressed by An Lanntair or the Hebridean Celtic Festival because they are not proper “businesses”. Both of these organisations provide a superb and hugely valuable attraction for residents and visitors alike, and they are entitled to their opinion (be it for or against).

 

I also note that Mr Macleod suggests that I “help to lead a campaign to overthrow our Lord's Day”. This is quite incorrect. I am simply seeking to discharge my responsibility to ensure that our members have their views represented and, whether Mr Macleod likes it or not, I have represented their views to Calmac.

 

I am very surprised that Mr Macleod chooses to use the phrase “backwards, benighted Sabbatarian rock” to describe the Isle of Lewis – it is certainly not a sentiment I would share about the place we have chosen to make our home. I hope that he reflects on the appropriateness of his description.

 

 

 

Ian Fordham

Chairman - OHTIA